Council Member Wilson introduces PET Act for veterinary price transparency

Thank you.

Councilmember Wilson, followed by Marano.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

One-third of New York City households have a pet, yet most New Yorkers cannot afford even a basic veterinary wellness visit.

Veterinary prices have increased by 60% over the past decade, driven by the consolidation of the veterinary industry as private equity firms and large corporations purchase independent practices.

Today, 50% of veterinary practices and 75% of emergency vet hospitals

are owned by large corporations, and pet owners are often unaware that a seemingly independent neighborhood practice is part of a larger chain.

Pets are family, but rising costs have unfairly rendered pet care a luxury good.

Tragically, some families face financial euthanasia, which is having to euthanize an animal because a treatable condition, they cannot afford the necessary treatment.

My new bill, the Pricing, Equity, and Transparency, or PET Act, would require veterinary practices to clearly disclose and display standard charges and price ranges for commonly offered services.

The PET Act will also require practices to provide written or electronic estimates for certain higher cost services upon request and provide itemized receipts.

Additionally, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection would establish and maintain a publicly accessible website to display average prices for common veterinary procedures.

The PET Act will allow pet owners to compare prices, evaluate treatment options, anticipate expenses, and make more informed decisions about both their animal's care and the type of businesses they wish to support.

By making it easier to shop around for veterinary services, the proposal would expand consumer choice, promote accountability and fair competition, promote more trusting relationships between vets and their clients, and help more New Yorkers access essential preventative and life-saving care.

So thank you to the Ledge Division for their work on this, and I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass this.

Thanks so much.